Favel will launch herself from the door of an aeroplane flying high above Ashburton airfield on Saturday afternoon, and that, she says is pushing herself well outside her comfort zone.

She will be one of 32 fundraising jumpers across Canterbury.

The Graeme Dingle Foundation works to inspire all school age New Zealand children to reach their full potential through programmes that help build self-esteem, promote good values and teach valuable life, education and health skills.

The foundation has partnered with Skydiving Kiwi in Ashburton and every dollar raised from this event will be spent on school-based programmes working alongside young people in our most vulnerable communities, so far over $30,000 has been raised.

The programmes are sequenced to create a positive vehicle for change for young people aged 5 to 18 years old.

This is what we call the Transformational Journey – a journey that helps our young people become more confident and resilient, find purpose and direction to achieve success.

By Sue Newman © The Ashburton Guardian - 3 May 2019

Listening in during the team talk at training this week were Mid Canterbury Combined players Hamish Kerr (left) and Ben Fakataha. Photo Erin TaskerThey’re a relatively new team and they don’t have any big stars, but the players that make up the Mid Canterbury Combined 1st XV are hoping to rattle a few cages this season.

Today, they head into battle in the first round of the Crusaders rugby region’s schoolboy rugby competition – the UC Championship – well aware that they’re in for just that, a battle.

Marlborough Boys’ College will be the Mid Canterbury side’s opposition at the Ashburton College field today, and the home side know starting the competition with a win won’t be easy.

While the Ashburton College and Mt Huttt College combined side has retained the services of just seven players from the 2018 season where Mid Canterbury Combined didn’t win a game, they understand the traditionally strong Marlborough Boys outfit have only lost about three players from last season.

Mid Canterbury Combined is being coached by a partnership this season, of Brent Middleton, Warren Donald and Andrew Morgan, and while they know it’s probably going to be a tough season ahead, they’re excited by the potential of their young side.

Middleton said the players are excited, too.

“They (Marlborough Boys) will be tough but for the kids to get out there and go through the whole haka, and preparation of how they do things in the UC Championship, it’s exciting really,” Middleton said.

“This is some of the fastest rugby, and possibly faster than they will ever face again.”

A dislocated shoulder and a a head knock pre-season means Mid Canterbury Combined’s backline is light on numbers and experience, but they’ve got good numbers in the forwards.

Brynmor Workman will captain the side from halfback in what is his third season in the team.

“Our forwards will be small compared to the opposition, and as a team we haven’t got any superstars, so to go any good they are going to have to play as a team and trust each other,” Middleton said.

Their depth might not be huge, but they’ve got plenty of ability – as they showed in their pre-season win over Waitaki Boys’ High School.

Middleton said the side will be relying heavily on the experience of their seven returning players to lead the way.

“They are only going to get better as the season goes, obviously, and the first game will let us know where we are at,” Middleton said.

Mid Canterbury Combined will begin their UC Championship campaign against Marlborough Boys’ today at the Ashburton College field, with kick-off at midday.

By Erin Tasker © The Ashburton Guardian - 3 May 2019

Members of Ashburton College’s student executive want to bring the two together as a community initiative that will create a community of winners.

They hope to establish a central town free-food store where cafes can leave surplus food and where those in need can collect it.

They say similar initiatives are running successfully in Christchurch and they’re confident the free food store concept would work in Ashburton.

The students are already leading a school-based initiative to provide morning tea for students who may have to come to school without breakfast or lunch.

They know the difference that initiative has made in students’ lives and they know there is significant need in the wider community.

Rather than just talking, they want to make the food exchange happen, but they know they cannot do this without significant community input.

Executive members are hoping for community feedback and ideas on the food project and they want to hear from cafe owners to understand better just how much food could be available.

They know there will be significant work involved in taking the project from idea to reality, and they know that buy-in from cafes and restaurants will be critical, but they believe the food project is long overdue.

They plan to meet with Ashburton Mayor Donna Favel to present their idea and are keeping their fingers crossed for support from her and district councillors.

While making no commitment, Favel has indicated she’s keen to meet with the students and to listen to their ideas.

Students are also keen to have a central town vegetable garden that could be cared for by volunteers with produce available to the community.

By Sue Newman © The Ashburton Guardian - 3 May 2019